330 IRELAND. 



But " these offers of mercy to the repentant were not to preclude 

 measures of vigour against the obstinate." 



A special commission was now opened in Dublin for the trial of 

 the principal delinquents ; several of whom were tried and executed. 

 Among them Mr. Oliver Bond was tried, convicted, and condemned ; 

 and in his fate the other conspirators began to foresee their own. 

 The rebellion appeared to be completely crushed ; the fugitive rebels 

 were every where returning to their allegiance, and delivering up 

 their arms, and no hope remained of any effectual assistance from 

 France. In this situation a negotiation was opened between the Irish 

 government and the state prisoners ; the issue of which was, that 

 government consented to pardon Mr. Bond, and desist from any fur- 

 ther prosecution of the other leaders of the conspiracy, who, on their 

 parts engaged to make a full confession of all the proceedings and 

 plans of the society; after which they were to be permitted to trans- 

 port themselves to any country not at war with his majesty. The 

 information they communicated was laid before the Irish house of 

 commons, and has furnished materials for the brief account here 

 given. Mr. Oliver Bond survived his pardon only a few days; and 

 Mr. Arthur O'Connor, Dr. M'Nevin, and the rest, after having been 

 a considerable time confined in Ireland, were remove/! to prisons in 

 Scotland ; whence, after the conclusion of the late peace, they were 

 permitted to transport themselves to France, where they still remain. 



After the failure of the expedition under general Hoche, France, 

 fortunately for Great Britain, made no attempt to assist the Irish 

 insurgents till it was too late ; and the aid then sent was very feeble, 

 and inadequate to the end proposed. On the 22d of August, some 

 frigates and transports from France appeared in Killala bay, and 

 landed about a thousand men, with a quantity of arms and ammuni- 

 tion. The number of insurgents who joined the invaders was not 

 considerable ; but the French general Humbert, by his conduct, 

 proved himself an officer of ability, and worthy of command where 

 there was a fairer prospect of success. He advanced without loss 

 of time to Castlebar, where general Lake was collecting his forces, 

 attacked, and compelled him to retreat with the loss of six pieces of 

 cannon and a few men ; after which he advanced towards Tuam : but 

 on the 7th of September the marquis Cornwallis came up with the 

 French in the vicinity of Castlebar, when they retreated, and the next 

 morning, after a slight resistance, surrendered at discretion. The 

 rebels who had joined them were dispersed, and a great number of 

 them killed or taken. Another effort was afterwards made by the 

 French to support, or rather to rekindle the flames of rebellion in 

 Ireland. On the 17th of September a fleet sailed from France, con- 

 sisting of one ship of the line (the Hoche) and eight frigates, with 

 troops and ammunition on board, destined for Ireland ; but this arma- 

 ment was completely defeated by the squadron under the command 

 of sir John Borlase Warren, as has been already related in our sum- 

 mary of the affairs of England. 



The few remaining troops of rebels, who were dispersed among 

 the woods and mountains, now successively laid down their arms. A 

 chief of the name of Holt, at the head of a number of banditti, con- 

 tinued for some time to commit depredations in the mountainous parts 

 of the county of Wicklow : but at last it was believed that he made 

 terms with government, and was permitted to save his life by relin- 

 quishing for ever his native country. 



